Commerce secretary found unconscious in car after crashes, will take medical leave

A succession of small fender benders over the weekend raises questions about whether U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson has a medical or legal problem — or both.

The bizarre series of events happened Saturday afternoon when Bryson hit a car stopped for a train — twice — then rammed into another vehicle a few minutes later. He was found unconscious in his car, and government officials said Monday he had a seizure, which could play a role in whether he’s charged with felony hit-and-run.

Bryson said Monday he will take a medical leave of absence to undergo tests and evaluations.

It wasn’t clear whether the medical episode preceded or followed the collisions, but Bryson hasn’t suffered a seizure before, said a department official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secretary’s medical history.

The crashes drew attention because of health concerns involving a member of the Cabinet, as well as the challenge investigators face when trying to determine if someone should be held criminally responsible because of adverse health.

Bryson, 68, was driving alone in a Lexus in San Gabriel when he struck the rear of a vehicle that had stopped for a passing train, authorities said.

He spoke briefly with the three occupants and then hit their car again as he departed, investigators said. They followed him while calling police.

Bryson then struck a second car in the nearby city of Rosemead, where he was found unconscious in his car, authorities said.

He was cited for felony hit-and-run, although he has not been charged.

Bryson has returned to Washington after a brief hospital stay, department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said.

President Barack Obama said he found out about the crashes Monday but hasn’t yet spoken with Bryson.

“And my hope is that he’s doing all right,” he told KTIV-TV in Sioux City, Iowa. “It sounds like it was health-related in some way. But we’re going to make sure that obviously he gets the best care, and we’ll be able to make a determination from there.”

Officials said Bryson was not on government business, was driving a personal car and did not have a security detail at the time.

He took a Breathalyzer test that didn’t detect any alcohol, but investigators were awaiting the results from a blood test, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker.

As reports of the accident were made public Monday morning, one of the most prominent Republican political groups in the country suggested that Bryson was guilty of drunken driving.

“How does @CommerceSec have 3 car crashes in 5 minutes and alcohol NOT be involved? #Skills,” the group American Crossroads said in a tweet.

The tweet caused a whirlwind of attention.

American Crossroads apologized later for the hasty accusation, about the same time the Commerce Department said Bryson had suffered a seizure.

Commerce officials said Bryson was given medication to treat the seizure. Paramedics treated two people in the first collision for pain, but a couple involved in the second crash declined medical aid.

The case was being reviewed by sheriff’s investigators and will likely be submitted to prosecutors in the coming days.

Defense attorney Steve Meister said “it’s difficult to assign criminal liability when someone was medically unconscious. They have to be aware what was happening.”

Bryson had been in California to deliver the commencement address Thursday at Pasadena Polytechnic School, where his four children attended.